Hello, Reader.

You know how December feels like the 4am of the year? And January is early morning, when you barely got any sleep? (and summer is clearly the afternoon and early evening of the year)

no? just me?

It's like synesthesia but for time...

Tomorrow we enter the early morning.

I have hopes for that new day. According to the Chinese calendar we are finishing a nine year cycle (that started in 2016(!!)

I have hope that 2026 will start a new cycle.

Regardless, whatever happens, we will be here listening to each other, making each other laugh, eating snacks together, and I will be here marking up your skin to bring you a bit of extra joy and self assuredness.

Speaking of me and Chicago. I went there twice this year. I guested at Butterfat again and again and continue to love my experiences every time. If you have people in Chicago and they love your tattoo work, or color work in general, please let them know about my visits. I would love to build enough clientele there to make my trips longer.

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How do you mark the end of the year? Is it important to you to contemplate what you've accomplished and what you'd like to accomplish in the coming time? I am not talking about new year's resolutions. My end of the year contemplations tend to be about gratitude, and awe, and intention.

Here are some images from my year that capture my gratitude, and awe.

Please hit reply, if you will, and let me know what you are grateful for, in awe of, and intentional about when it comes to the past year and the year ahead.

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Now for some logistical news...

• I have started to charge per session rather than per hour. I find it makes everything easier and smoother. The client knows exactly how much the session will cost, and I know exactly how much I am making. I have also been having folks prepay their sessions, so after the tattoo is wrapped up they can just get up and go home. Each session is $600, and includes two to two and a half hours of needle on skin time.
• Sayler, my apprentice, is doing beautifully. If you want a little bit of Sayler magic, their current rate is $150/hr. Sayler's Portfolio.​
• In May I had to switch scheduling software providers and currently I am with Acuity. If you need that link to book a consult or an appointment, here it is:

Acuity Scheduling Link

• My website, though at the same Internet address, www.micahriot.com, moved servers, got redesigned, and is now with Squarespace. It's ever a work in progress, and if you have any thoughts about how to make it extra good, please do send them to me!
• I continuously make new stickers and if you haven't been in in a while and come back, just ask me.
• New swag is coming. Likely with this image:

• I still have some "coupons" I made this year for $100 off a two hour session for new folks. If you want one for a friend or a partner, ask. I can send it to you in the mail to make it easy.

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if you are curious about what I've read this year, here is my blog post with that list. ​

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This year I have made things with clay, sewed, painted, wrote a bit, cooked, and of course tattooed. I also made some more muscle mass, by lifting heavy and eating protein. Not everything I made was worth showing someone else, but the important thing is to create, from your very inner self. It is an antidote to hopelessness.

What did you create?

What do you want to create this coming year?

I wish you well, I wish you energy to create, peaceful stillness when you want to rest, and joy to help you continue to exist in this world.

I am grateful for you, your attention and presence. I am always happy to hear from you. And may we all collectively have a better 2026!

Micah Riot.